Circular knitting machine



April 21, 1942. L. A. GOYETTE CVIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE 4 "Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 30, 1941 LUCIEN A. GOYETTE 3y 71:15 aizarneys p 1942- L. A. GO YETTE 2,280,698

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Fzvgn't'ar LUCI EN A. GOYETTE a has afi'arneys P 1942- L. A. GOY'ETTE 2,280,698

C IRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 30, 1941 4 Sheet-Sheet 4 LucIEN A. GOYETTE 5y 711.9 wiZar-ney" Patented Apr. 21, 1942 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE r v v 2,280,698 I cinema mums mscnms Lucien a. Goyette, Lowell, Mala, assumito Scott a; Incorporated, Iaconia, N. 11., I a corporation of Massachusetts Application September so, 1941, Serial No.'413,053

12 Claims. =(ci. 86-14) This invention relates to circular'knitting machines and morenparticularly to circular knitting machines having yarns or threads red and knit at a plurality of points in the needle circle and it is an object of this invention to. provide means I in a circular knitting machine of the type described for preventing the formation or alloose stitch when an auxiliary or second yarn is introduced at a second or auxiliary feed to needles knitting another yarn at another or main feed point. It is also an object or this inventlonto provide a method of knitting a yarn introduced at a second or auxiliary feed whereby the loose stitch usually formed at thefirst needle taking such yarn as the auxiliary feed is prevented.

in connection with a Scott 8: Williams Komet circular knitting machine, only such parts or the machine being shown as is necessary to illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing-the v fed to the needles;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the yarn placer raised in position to engage the auxiliary yarn:

Figure 3 is a view similarto Figure l but showingthe auxiliary yarn finger moved to engage the auxiliary yam with the needles and the-auxiliary yarn engaged by the yarn placer:

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the auxiliary yarn drawn down by the first needle to take the auxiliary yarn in its hook and the yarn placer drawn down to place the auxiliary yarn in engagement withthe sinkers;

Figure 5 is a'vie'w similar to Figure 4 but showing the looseend oi'the auxiliary yarn released from the cutting and clamping mechanism and engaged by the slnkers about the shanks or needies in advance or the first needle to take the auxiliary yarn in its hook;

Figure 6 is a-diagrammatic view showing the relations of the needles, sinkers and yarns as they approach the knitting point for the main yam} the sinkers having carried out the free end or thefauxlliaryyarn topermit or the needle latches passing downin back thereof;

Figure? is a view 'simllar to Figure 6 showing the needles oi. Figure '6 moved from the position of Figure 6 and the free end 01' the auxiliary yarn being carried into the hooks oi the needles by the raising'o! the needle latches:

10 and clamping means and placer tor the auxiliary yarns, the parts thereof being shown separated; Figures 11, 12 and 13 are views in elevation of I the placer mounted on the cutting and clamping means Figure 11 showing the placer when raised to receive the auxiliary yarn; Figure 12 showing In the drawings in which the invention is shownthe placer when partly retracted from the position of Figure 11 and in position-to place the auxiliary yarn on the sinkersr'and Figure 13 showing the placer in its fully retracted and inactive position:

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic .view showing the relations of. the sinkers, needles and latch guard i as the needles are lowered, as in Figure 6, to place their latches in back or the free endoi the auxiliary yarn;

Figure 15 is a view, similar to Figure 14 and showing the relation of the needles and sinker-s as the latches carry the free end of the auxiliary yarn into the hooks or the needles;

0' Figure 16 is a view in elevation of a sinker having a neb shortened to facilitate receiving the I auxiliary yarn; and- Figure 17 is a diagrammatic view, drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the relations of the 85 loops of the main and auxiliary yarns at the point where the auxiliary yam is'added in a fabric knit in accordance with this invention,

' In circular knitting machines having inde-' pendent needles arranged to knit separate yarns 4 0 at diflerent feeding points the introduction of an auxiliary yarn at the auxiliary or second feeding point causes an eyelet or small opening to be formed as the result or the looseness or greater length or the stitch formed by the first needle taking the auxiliary yarn. The looseness or greater length of the stitch is due to the fact that the free end or the auxiliary yarn, when released 7 from the cutting and clamping mechanism, is

not held or kept under tension and can feed to the needle freely. After the first stitch is knit needle taking the auxiliary yarn being or the and needle control means at the auxiliary feed as shown in the patent to Deans, No. 2,101,494, Dec. 7, 1937. Such yarn and needle control means comprise a yarn finger ill for the auxiliary yarn placer above the cutting clamping mechanism I 2 as shown in Figure 2. The auxiliary yarn linger I is then operated by the cam disk 30 to present the auxiliary yarn A to the needles while at the same time, the cam disk 26 is being operated to position the stitch cam at the auxiliary knitting point to draw down the needles to take the auxiliary yarn and cast off the loops of the main yarn then below the latchesoi' the needles. Needle n shown in Figure 4 as the first of the needles taking the auxiliary yarn in its hook to and cutting and clamping means I2 for the auxiliary yarn, both mounted'upon a bracket N which is adiustably mounted upon a bracket I6 carried by the bed plate B. Cam disks mounted upon a, shalt '(not shown) rotatably mounted in the bracket l6 are operated step by step by lever I 8 and pawl from a cam (not shown) on a rotating part of the machine. Cam disk 22 through engagement with the cam follower 24 serves to operate the cutting and clamping means l2 to cut and clamp the auxiliary yarn'wherl it is withdrawn from the needles and to' release the yarn when it is again presented to the needles. Cam disk 26 operates cam-follower 28 to operate a bolt cam (not shown) to place a' stitch 1 cam (not shown) in position to render the needles active at the auxiliary knitting point while cam disk 30 operates the cam follower 32 to operate the auxiliary yarn finger It all as shown in 1 the Deans Patent No. 2,101,494.

To one side of the cutter and clamp l2 for the auxiliary yarn there is slidably secured a plate 34 having at one end a wire angularly disposed with respect to the plate 34 and forming an engaging member or placer 36 for the auxiliary yarn. The plate 34 is provided with angularly disposed slots 31 and 38 which receive the screws 48 by which the plate 34 is secured to the cutting and clamping means l2. The slots 31 and 38 are so arranged that movement of the plate 34 towards the needles causes the placer 36 to be moved upwardly, as well as towards the needles, so that the placer is moved from a position below the level of the upper surface of the cutting and clamping mechanism I! to a position above its upper surface. Mounted in the plate 34 is an abutment 42 positioned so as to be engaged by a cam follower 44 which is operated by a cam disk 46 assembled to be rotated with the cam disks 22, 26 and 38. A spring 48 attached to the abutment 42 and a fixed portion of the machine biases the plate 34 to a position away from the needles and in which the placer 36 is lowered.

In the operation of a machine in accordance with this invention the needles knit the main yarn M at the main knitting point prior to the introduction of the auxiliary yam A and at the auxiliary knitting point the needles are raised as shown in Figure 1, so that the loops of the main yarn on the needles are below the needle latches. The end of the auxiliary yarn is held by the cutting and clamping means l2 and the auxiliary yam finger I0 is adjacent the cutting and clamping means I! in a position in which the auxiliary yarn A is not presented to the needles.

Just prior to the presenting of the auxiliary yarn to the needles the cam disks are stepped around bringing a cam surface 46 of the cam disk "into engagement with the cam follower 44 and operating the yarn placer 36 so as to raise the knit may be the first of a group of needles having medium length butts which are drawn down by the stitch cam,when partially inserted by the operation of the disk cam 26 during the passage of a group of short butt needles immediately in advance of the medium butt needles. During the passage of the medium butt needles the stitch cam is inserted all the way so as to operate all needles to take the auxiliary yam.

With the drawing down of the needle 11' to draw the first loop of the auxiliary yarn, the cam disk 46 is rotated bringing the cam surface 46" into engagement with the cam follower 44 and permitting the spring 48 to partially retract the plate 34 and yarn placer 36, the placer 36 assuming a position in which it bears upon the auxiliary yarn which is still held by the cutting and clamping means i2 and causes the auxiliary yarn to engage the knocking-over surfaces of several sinkers in advance of the needle n. The leading sinker s engaged by the auxiliary yarn when drawn down by the placer 36 is being advanced at that time and in order to insure the yarn being placed below the sinker neb the neb, is altered. preferably by being shortened, as shown in Figure 16, although the neb may be bent upwardly.

- The following sinker s is also altered, preferably by having the neb bent upwardly although the neb of this sinker may be shortened as was the neb of the sinker just ahead. A third sinker s, which is just inadvance of the needle n, is preferably of the usual construction.

The rotation of the needle cylinder carries the sinkers towards the cutting and clamping mechanism l2 and causes the sinkers to be advanced. As the sinker s approaches, the cutting and clamping mechanism I2 is operated by the cam disk 22 to release the auxiliary yarn allowin the free end thereof to be drawn from engagement with the placer 36. Further rotation of the cam disk 46 brings the cam surface 46 to the cam follower 44, permitting the spring 48 to retract the yarn placer 36 to its inactive po sition as shown in Figures 5 and 13. Continued operation of the sinkers s, s, s with the rotation of the needle cylinder causes these sinkers to engage the yarn A in their throats and to form bights of the auxiliary yarn A about the shanks of needles n and n and below the latches thereof as shown in Figure 5.

As the needles approach the main knitting wave, the sinkers are retracted, the sinkers s. s s carrying with them the free end of the auxiliary yarn A so that when the needles n, n are drawn down to take and knit the main yarn, M the end of the auxiliary yarn A has been carried from the needles n and n sufliciently far to permit of the latches of these needles passing down in back of the auxiliary yarn, as shown in Figure 6. At this point, the latch guard 50 is cut away to permit of the raising of the needle latches by the loops of yam bein cast from the needles. The latches .ofneedles n and n as they'are raised by ,th'" "being as sacos cast oil, engage the loose end of the auxiliary yarn A and carry the loose end of the auxiliary yarn into the hooks of the needles n and n so that loops of the loose end of the auxiliary yarn are drawn with the new loops of the main yarn.

It will be noted that at the main knitting wave the auxiliary yarn is knit from the free end thereof back towards the first loop knitv of the auxiliary yarn by'the needle n, that is, a loop is first drawn by the needle 12 and then by the needle 11. However, as the needle 1t also draws a loop of the main yarn M, the loop of the auxiliary yarn is secured by the frictionof the.

yarns and as the loop of the auxiliary yarn is drawn by the needle hi there is a tendency for yarn to be drawn from the auxiliary yarn loop drawn by the needle n and to reduce this loop to the normal size. Upon completion of the loops of both the main and auxiliary yarns by the needles n and n the auxiliary yarn is seecured against slipping and enlargement of the auxiliary yarn loop drawn by the needle n i prevented.

From the diagrammatic showing of the loops in Figure 17, it will be seen that while the first loop knit of the auxiliary yarn by the needle 72 occurs as a single yarn loop as at the wale is in course 0, the loops knit of the free end of the auxiliary yarn by the needles n and n occur as part of the two-yarn loops in wales 3 and 5, respectively of course (i.

This invention is of particular use in connection with the knitting of hosiery on two-feed machines where the auxiliary yarn is introduced for the knitting of the leg and for the knitting of the foot after coming of! the heel. While the invention has been shown in connection with a two-feed machine of a particular construction, it is to be understood the invention is not limited to use with machines of the construction shown, but may be used with two-feed machines of other constructions.

While the invention has been shown and described as in connection with a knitting machine having a main and an auxiliary yarn feeds and a knitting wave for each yarn feed, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such machines, but is equally applicable to a machine having a plurality of auxiliary feeds pendent needles. sinkers'cooperating with said needles, main and auxiliary knitting waves for knitting main and auxiliary yarns at the respective knitting waves, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to the needles and means for engaging the free ends of the auxiliary yarn with sinkers in advance of .the first needle knitting saidauxiliary yarn at the auxiliary knitting wave.

2. In a circular knitting machine having independent needles, sinkers cooperating with said needles, main and auxiliary knitting waves for knitting main and auxiliary yarns at the respective knitting waves, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to the needles and means for engagin the free end of the auxiliary yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle knitting said auxilauxiliary yarn at the auxiliary knitting wave while said clamping means holds said auxiliary yarn.

4. In a circular knitting machine having inder endent needles, sinkers cooperating with said needles, main and auxiliary knitting waves for knitting main and auxiliary yarns at the respective knitting waves, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to the needles and a yarn placer for engaging said auxiliary yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle taking said auxiliary yarn at the auxiliary knitting wave, said sinkers being operated to engage said auxiliary yarn in the throats of the sinkers to position said yarn for engagement by needles at the main knitting wave.

5. In a circular knitting machine having independent needles, sinkers cooperating with said needles, main and auxiliary knittingwaves for knitting main and auxiliary yarns at the respective knitting waves, means for feeding an aux-' iliary yarn to the needles and a yarn placer for engaging said auxiliary yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle taking said auxiliary yarn at the auxiliary knitting wave, said sinkers being operated to engage said auxiliary yarn in the throats of 'said sinkers and position said auxiliary yarn to be carried to the needles by the needle latches at the main knitting wave.

iary yarn at the auxiliary knitting wave, saidsinkers holding said auxiliary yarn for engagement by needles at the main knitting wave.

3. In a circular knitting machine having in- 6. In a circular knitting machine having independent needles, sinkers cooperating with said needles, main and auxiliary knitting waves for knitting main and auxiliary yarns at the respective knitting waves, means for feeding an aux-. iliary 'yarn to the needles and a yarn placer for engaging said auxiliary yam with sinkers in advance ofthe first needle taking said auxiliary yarn at the auxiliary knitting wave, said sinkers being operated to engage said auxiliary yarn with the needle shanks to carry said auxiliary yarn into the sinker throats and to withdraw said yarn from the needle shanks for engagement by the needle latches as the latches are closed at the main knitting wave,

7. In a circular knitting machine having independent needles, sinkers cooperating with saidneedles, main and auxiliary knitting waves for knitting main and auxiliary yams at the respective knitting waves, means for feeding an auxiliary yarn to the needles and a yarn placer for engaging said auxiliary yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle taking the auxiliary yarn at the auxiliary knitting wave, said sinkers being operated to position said auxiliary yarn to be engaged with needle hooks by the closing of needle latches at the main knitting wave.

8. In a method of knitting fabric of a plurality of yarns the steps of feeding one yam to the needles at one kniting wave, feeding a second yarn to the needles at a second knitting wave, engaging the freeend of said second yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle taking said second yarn, securing said free end of said second yarn in the throats'of said sinkers and knitting of yarns, the steps of feeding one yarn to the needles at one knitting wave, feeding a. second yarn to the needles at a second knitting wave, engaging the free end of said second yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle taking said second yarn and presenting said free end of said second yarnby said sinkers atthe first knitting wave to needles in advance of the first needle taking said second yarn at said second knitting wave.

10. In a circular knitting machine having independent needles operated in a plurality of knitting waves, sinkers cooperating with said needles, means for feeding a yarn to the needles at a knitting wave and means engaging the free end of said yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle taking said yarn at said knitting wave, said sinkers holding said yarn for engagement by needles at a following knitting wave.

11. In a circular knitting machine having inassume 7 dependent needles operated in a plurality of knitting waves, sinkers cooperating with said needles, means for feeding a yam to the needles at a knitting wave and means engaging the free end of said yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle taking said yam at said knitting said yarn with sinkers in advance of the first needle taking said yam at said knitting wave, said sinkers holding said yarn for engagement by needles of said first needle for knitting said yarn and another yarn at a following knitting wave. LUCIEN A. GOYETTE. 

